Chair



April 1963 c. u. DEATON 3,087,758

CHAIR Filed Aug. 7, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

INVEN TOR. CHARLES U. DEATON FIG. 3 BY ATTORNEY April 30, 1963 c. u.DEMON 3,087,758

CHAIR Filed Aug. '7, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l e. -lI///////// AT TO rawFIG. 6

United States Patent CHAIR Charles U. Deaton, 1535 Hoyt St., Lakewood15, C010. Filed Aug. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 129,650 2 Claims- (Cl. 297-445)This invention relates in general to furniture and, more particuiarly,to a chair having .a frame which is a combination of metal and woodcomponents.

In developing and designing modern furniture, and particularly furniturewhich embodies a combination of wood and metallic elements, it isdifficult to interconnect the wood and metallic members without the useof some type of visible fastening elements. Such fastening elements areusually unattractive in appearance and interfere with the clean sweepingflow of line which is considered essential in contemporary designs. Manydesigners of modern furniture have actually developed fastening elementswith very large oversized heads of starkly geometric configuration,endeavoring by this means to make the visible portion of the fastenerelement a prominent part of the design; Such efforts, however, arerarely, if ever, successful from the aesthetic point of view. Indeed,such expedients are usually employed in making very lowpriced socalledmodern furniture.

On the other hand, in the case of fine well-designed contemporaryfurniture, every effort is made to use concealed jointing. This is noparticular problem where metal elements are concerned, since metalelements can be welded together and the weld joints ground off or buffeddown so as to be virtually invisible after the article is finallyfinished. Similarly, woden elements can be tenoned, dove-tailed, orotherwise joined by conventional furniture-marking techniques, and suchjoints are also invisible from the outside surfaces of the furnitureafter the finishing operations have been completed. The reallydifficultproblem is encountered in joining metal to Wood. Usually thisis accomplished by designing the furniture so that the wood element,whatever it may be, is fastened to the top side of the metallic member,so that the under, or left visible, side of the metallic member can bedrilled and a screw inserted therethrough. Such techniques, however,seriously limit the designer and do not always effectively conceal thejoint-forming or fastening means.

It has also become a widespread practice in the furniture industry toship furniture in a partially disassembled or so-called knocked-downcondition. Usually, the retail furniture dealer can perform the finalassembly operation with his own employees much less expensively than itcan be done at the factory. The chief advantage, however, resides in thesaving of shipping and storage costs. A piece of furniture which can beshipped in knockeddown form can he pack-aged much more compactly andsafely than a fully assembled piece of furniture. Not only does thisresult in material savings in shipping costs, but also reduces thedamage which inevitably seems to occur in the shipment of furniture. Inaddition to this, it is possible for the retail furniture dealer tostore a much larger quantity of knocked-down furniture in a given amountof warehouse space. Thus, the retail furniture dealer can assemble floorsamples, from which sales. can he made, and the final assemblyoperations can be completed at the time the merchandise is shipped fromthe warehouse to the ultimate consumer. This procedure makes it possibleto achieve substantial economy in inventory keeping and warehousingcosts.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to providea chair having a frame consisting of a combination of wood and metalelements with substantially concealed fastening means between the woodframe and the metallic frame.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a chair of thetype stated in which fastening means is structurally strong andrelatively inexpensive.

' It is also an object of the present invention to provide a chair ofthe type stated in which the various components or elements can beshipped in a compact or so-called knocked-down form and can be veryquickly and inexpensively assembled for ultimate use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a chair ofthe type stated in which the various connecting elements or fasteningmeans are, for the most part, substantially concealed and do not, in anyway, affect the aesthetic appearance of the overall design.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in thenovel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination ofparts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings (two sheets)-- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chairconstructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a chair;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional veiw taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 4-4 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 3;

' FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the fastener stud forming a part ofand employed in the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing the means bywhich the chair back is attached to the upright portion of the rearchair leg; and

I FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 1010 of FIG.2.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawingswhich illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thechair consists essentially of a seat-frame A, two matching side-framesB, B, an arm-frame C, an upholstered seat D, and an upholstered back E.

The -seat-frame A is fabricated preferably from wood membersapproximately four inches wide and one inch thick and includes twoside-rails 1, 2, and two cross-rails 3, 4, which are arranged in endwiseabutting relationship in the form of a trapezoid, the cross-rail 4 beingsomewhat shorter than the cross-rail 3. Moreover, the cross-rails 3, 4,are located inwardly from the forward and rear ends, respectively, ofthe sidearails 1, 2, and are secured thereto by means of angular cornerbraces 5, 6, 7, 8, the latter being conventionally secured in place bymeans of a series of wood screws '9, all as hest seen in FIG. 3. it isalso usual in the furniture-making ant to apply glue to the variousabutting ends of the cross-rails 3, 4, and corner braces 5, 6, 7, 8, andthis may be done in the present instance desired. Also secured, by meansof Wood screws 10, essentially across the inwardly presented verticalface of the forward cross-rail 3, is a reinforcing block 11 which isflush across its top face with the top face of the cross-rail 3.

Along their forwardly presented upright margins, the side-rails 1, 2,are rabbeted in the provision of abutment faces 12, 1'3, and forwardlyprojecting narrow side flanges 1'4, 15. Along their rearward margins,the side-rails 1, 2, are similarly rabbeted in the provision of abutmentfaces 16, 17, and narrow side flanges 18, 19, as best seen in FIG. 3.

Set securely into the abutment faces 16, 17, approximately midway of thevertical height thereof are connection pins 20, each including anelongated cylindrical shank 21 and an enlarged head 22 of frusto-conicalshape, the inner or attached end of which is of substantially largerdiametral size than the diametral size of the shank 21, all as best seenin FIG. 7.

The connection pins 20 are mounted so that the inwardly presentedshoulder-forming faces of the head 22 abut against the faces 16, 17, asseen, for example, in FIG. 5.

It will be noted by reference to FIG. 2 that the forwardly projectingend of the side-rails 1, 2, that is to say the abutment faces 12, 13,and the flanges 14, 15, are cut off at a slightly upwardly andrearwardly inclined angle. Similarly, the rearwardly projecting ends ofthe side-rails 1, 2, that is to say, the abutment faces 16, '17, and theflanges 18, 19, are cut oflf at a somewhat more sharply oblique upwardlyinclined angle.

The two matching side-frames B, B, are geometrically similar in shape,but are mirror images of each other, so to speak, so as to form theright and left sides of the chair. In other words, the frame Bintegrally comprises a forward leg 23, a rearward leg 24, a top-rail 25and an intermediate cross-rail 26, all formed preferably of metal tubingof square cross-sectional shape and rigidly welded together. It shouldbe noted in this connection that the weld-joints, after having beenformed, are ground down to form substantially smooth flush surfaces andthe frames are given either an overall fine polish or buffing or someother suitable surface finish so that the weld-joints are, in effect,invisible. As will be noted by reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the front leg23 inclines upwardly and rearwardly at a slight angle to the vertical,whereas the rear leg 24 inclines upwardly and forwardly at a somewhatsharper oblique angle to the vertical. It will also be noted that thetop-rail 25 and the intermediate cross-rail 26 are substantiallyparallel. Finally, it will be evident that the rear leg 24 projectsupwardly, at its upper end, above the top-rail 25 and, in the region ofits juncture with such top-rail 25, is bent backwardly at a rearwardlyinclined oblique angle to the vertical in the provision of a backsupporting post 27, which is cut off at its upper end in aforwardly-facing oblique end-surface 28 and, at such upper end, isprovided with a forwardly projecting relatively heavy stud 29 which is,in turn, provided with a horizontal diametrally extending pin-hole 30,all as best seen in FIG. 9.

Similarly, the frame B integrally comprises a forward leg 23', arearward leg 24, a top-rail 25, and an intermediate cross-rail 26, allformed preferably of metal tubing of square cross-sectional shape andrigidly welded together. It should be noted in this connection that theweld-joints, after having been formed, are ground down to formsubstantially smooth flush surfaces and the frames are given either anoverall fine polish or bufling or some other suitable surface finish sothat the weldjoints are, in effect, invisible. As will be noted byreference to FIG. 1, the front leg 23' inclines upwardly and rearwardlyat a slight angle to the vertical, whereas the rear leg 24 inclinesupwardly and forwardly at a somewhat sharper oblique angle to thevertical. It will also be noted that the top-rail 25 and theintermediate crossrail 26 are substantially parallel. Finally, it willbe evident that the rear leg 24 projects upwardly, at its upper end,above the top-rail 25 and, in the region of its juncture with suchtop-rail 25, is bent backwardly at a rearwardly inclined oblique angleto the vertical in the provision of a back supporting post 27, which iscut off at its upper end in a forwardly-facing oblique end-surface 28and, at such upper end, is provided with a forwardly projectingrelatively heavy stud 29 which is, in turn, provided with a horizontaldiametrally extending pin-hole 30, also as best seen in FIG. 9.

The back legs 24, 24', are each provided, at properly spaced distancesabove the intermediate cross-rails 26,

26, with apertures 31, 31, which are somewhat larger than the smallerend of the head 22 of the connection pin 20, but substantially smallerthan the larger end thereof. Thus, the seat-frame A can be fitted into,and between, the side-frames B, B, by placing the bottom or downwardlypresented faces of the side-rails 1, 2, upon the upper faces of theintermediate cross-rails 26, 26, so that the heads 22 of the connectionpins 20 will fit into the apertures 31, 31. By forcing the seat-frame Arearwardly, the heads 22 will be jam-fitted tightly into substantiallypermanent engagement with the apertures 31, 31. Since the peripheraledges of the apertures 31, 31, are relatively sharp, as a result ofhaving been punched or drilled, these edges will bite into thefrustoconical surfaces of the heads 22 and form a retentive seattherewith. The position of the connection pins 20 is also such inreference to the side flanges 18, 19, that the latter will be pulledinto snug-fitting engagement against the outwardly presented or lateralfaces of the rear legs 24, 24. Similarly, the flanges 14, 15, will fitagainst the outwardly presented or lateral faces of the forward legs 23,23, and the abutment faces 12, 13, will fit snugly against therearwardly presented faces of the forward legs 23, 23. The side-rails-1, 2, are, finally, held snugly in such position by means of elongatedattachment plates 32, 32, which are mounted upon the inwardly presentedfaces of the forwardly extending portions of the side-rails 1, 2, bymeans of wood screws 33, 33, also as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6.

The top-rails 25, 25, are suitably provided with a series of pairs ofupper and lower aligned apertures 34, 35, the latter being insubstantially vertical alignment with, and substantially larger indiametral size than, the former for receiving round-headed screws 36, bywhich the U-shaped arm-frame C is secured in overlying relationship uponthe top-rails 25, 25'. It will be noted by reference to FIGS. 1 and 2that the arm-frame C is integrally formed preferably of a single pieceof wood which is bent to its U-shape by the usual furniture-makingprocedure and integrally includes forwardly projecting arm rest elements37, 37', which are cut away at their rear ends, as at c, c, to clear thevertical margins of the upholstered back E and are integrally connectedby downwardly offset rearwardly curved elbows 38, 38, which mergeintegrally with a curved cross-bight 39, the latter being disposed inrearwardly spaced relation to the upholstered back E, as best seen inFIG. 8.

The upholstered teat D comprises a substantially oblong-rectangular basepanel 40 formed of suitably curved plywood having its four cornersrounded off to conventional radii or curves and provided upon its upperface with a relatively thick sponge rubber or foam plastic pillow 41,the entire structure being enclosed within a suitable covering or casing42 formed of fabric, leather, or synthetic film. The upholstered seat Dis suitably secured upon the corner braces 5, 6, 7, 8, by means ofconventional wood screws 43, all as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6.

The upholstered back E similarly comprises an arcuately shaped basepanel 44 formed of plywood, pressedwood or other suitable material andprovided upon its forwardly presented face with a sponge rubber or foamplastic pillow 45, the entire structure being housed within a suitablecovering or casing 46 matching the casing 42. The rearwardly presentedwall of the casing 46 and the base panel 44 are suitably apertured forsnug-fitting accommodation of the studs 29 and are rigidly held inattachment thereto by means of nail-like pins 47 which are insertedsidewise through small-diameter pilot holes 48 drilled in the lateraledges of the base panel 44, all as best seen in FIG. 8.

It will thus be evident that the chair of the present invention can beshipped in its disassembled form. In other words, the seat-frame A, thetwo matching side-frames B, B, the arm-frame C, the upholstered seat D,and the upbolstered back E can be enclosed within a relatively compactcarton or shipping container at the factory and can be assembled in theform shown in FIG. 1 by the furniture dealer or, for that matter, by theultimate purchaser in a relatively simple, convenient, and speedy mannerwithout any high degree of skill or training and without any specialtools or equipment. When assembled, the chair of the present inventionis extremely attractive in appearance and all of the fastening elementsare completely concealed so that the chair presents an extremelyattractive streamlined appearance.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of thechair may be made and substituted rfior those herein shown and describedwithout departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A chair comprising a pair of laterally spaced sideframes, each havingfront and rear legs rigidly connected by upper and lower cross-rails, anarm rest element rigidiy secured to the upper cross-rails and connectingthe side- :frames at an upper level, said upper cross-rails and said armrest element having sets of vertically aligned apertures, screw meansmounted within said aligned apertures for rigidly securing the arm restelement to the side-frames, said rear legs being provided with forwardlypresented apertures spaced upwardly from the lower cross-rails, aseat-frame having -a pair of side-rails adapted to fit snugly betweenthe front and rear legs of the sidetrames (and rest upon the lowercross-rails thereof, a rear wardly projecting pin in each 'of saidside-rails of the seat-frame, said pins being located for entry into theapertures of the rear legs and being sized for snug-fitting engagementwith such apertures, an attachment plate rigidly secured to each of theside-rails at their forward margins, said attachment plates and saidfront legs having aligned apertures, screw means mounted in saidapertures, means for rigidly attaching said side-rails at their forwardends to the front legs whereby the side-frames are rigidlyinterconnected at a lower level, a seat secured upon the seatframe, saidrear legs being provided with upwardly extending back supporting posts,said posts being provided at their upper ends with forwardly projectingpins, and a back member secured to and extending transversely betweensaid back supporting posts, said back member being mounted upon andsecured to said pins.

2. A chair comprising a pair lOf laterally spaced sideframes, eachhaving front and rear legs rigidly connected by upper and lowercross-rails, an arm rest element rigidly secured to the uppercross-rails and connecting the side-frames :at an upper level, saidupper cross-rails and said arm rest element having sets of verticallyaligned apertures, screw means mounted within said aligned apertures forrigidly securing the arm rest element to the sideframe-s, said rear legsbeing provided with forwardly presented apertures spaced upwardly fromthe lower crossrails, a seat frame having a pair of side-rails adaptedtofit snugly between the front and rear legs of the sideframes and restupon the lower cross-rails thereof, a rearwardly projecting pin in eachof said side-rails of the seatframe, said pins being located for entryinto the apertures of the rear legs and being sized for snug-fittingengagement with such apertures, an attachment plate rigidly secured toeach of the side-rails at their forward margins, said attachment platesand said (front legs having aligned apertures, screw means mounted insaid apertures, means for rigidly attaching said side-rails at theirforward ends to the front legs whereby the side-frames are rigidlyinterconnected at a lower level, a seat secured upon the seatframe, saidrear legs being provided with upwardly extending back supporting posts,said posts being provided at their upper ends with forwardly projectingstuds, a back member extending transversely between said back supportingposts, said back member having a matching aperture sized foraccommodation of each of said studs, said studs being inserted in saidaperture, and pin means inserted through each of said studs and theapertures in said back member for securing said back member to said backsupporting posts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.108,877 Johnson Mar. 22, 1938 2,650,656 Ohlsson Sept. 1, 1953 2,710,784Morin June 14, 1955 2,979,122 Knoll Apr. 11, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS278,236 Switzerland Oct. 15, 1951 1,074,345 France Oct. 5, 1954

1. A CHAIR COMPRISING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED SIDEFRAMES, EACH HAVINGFRONT AND REAR LEGS RIGIDLY CONNECTED BY UPPER AND LOWER CROSS-RAILS, ANARM REST ELEMENT RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE UPPER CROSS-RAILS AND CONNECTINGTHE SIDEFRAMES AT AN UPPER LEVEL, SAID UPPER CROSS-RAILS AND SAID ARMREST ELEMENT HAVING SETS OF VERTICALLY ALIGNED APERTURES, SCREW MEANSMOUNTED WITHIN SAID ALIGNED APERTURES FOR RIGIDLY SECURING THE ARM RESTELEMENT TO THE SIDE-FRAMES, SAID REAR LEGS BEING PROVIDED WITH FORWARDLYPRESENTED APERTURES SPACED UPWARDLY FROM THE LOWER CROSS-RAILS, ASEAT-FRAME HAVING A PAIR OF SIDE-RAILS ADAPTED TO FIT SNUGLY BETWEEN THEFRONT AND REAR LEGS OF THE SIDEFRAMES AND REST UPON THE LOWERCROSS-RAILS THEREOF, A REARWARDLY PROJECTING PIN IN EACH OF SAIDSIDE-RAILS OF THE SEAT-FRAME, SAID PINS BEING LOCATED FOR ENTRY INTO THEAPERTURES OF THE REAR LEGS AND BEING SIZED FOR SNUG-FITTING ENGAGEMENTWITH SUCH APERTURES, AN ATTACHMENT PLATE RIGIDLY SECURED TO EACH OF THESIDE-RAILS AT THEIR FORWARD MARGINS, SAID ATTACHMENT PLATES AND SAIDFRONT LEGS HAVING ALIGNED APERTURES, SCREW MEANS MOUNTED IN SAIDAPERTURES, MEANS FOR RIGIDLY ATTACHING SAID SIDE-RAILS AT THEIR FORWARDENDS TO THE FRONT LEGS WHEREBY THE SIDE-FRAMES ARE RIGIDLYINTERCONNECTED AT A LOWER LEVEL, A SEAT SECURED UPON THE SEATFRAME, SAIDREAR LEGS BEING PROVIDED WITH UPWARDLY EXTENDING BACK SUPPORTING POSTS,SAID POSTS BEING PROVIDED AT THEIR UPPER ENDS WITH FORWARDLY PROJECTINGPINS, AND A BACK MEMBER SECURED TO AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY BETWEENSAID BACK SUPPORTING POSTS, SAID BACK MEMBER BEING MOUNTED UPON ANDSECURED TO SAID PINS.